The Israel Defense Forces has gained a worldwide reputation for being a small and wise army, but El Salvador has gone a step further as its government decided to set up an army based on the IDF model.
The central American's defense minister approached Israel’s Ambassador Yonatan Peled and asked that Israel assist his country in building a modern and efficient army, Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday.
Peled said Israel would be happy to help. El Salvador asked for advice on the following issues: national service laws, reserve programs, training programs, and officers' courses.
'Locals appreciate Israel'
Peled said that “there is no doubt that El Salvador is building on our experience. In light of the friendship between the two countries and the good military relations in the past, their request is natural."
"Locals told me they appreciate Israel and the IDF's role in defending it, in which they see a model they can adopt,” he added.